spencer



' (No Model.)

J. H SPENCER.

V PROCESS OF CLEANING NUTS, &c. No. 374,012. Patented Nov. 29, 1887.

N. PETERS. nwwmw n w. Wathlnglon', 0.0.

UNITE PATENT rica.

JAMES H. SPENCER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ALICE EsrENcER,

. E SAME PLACE.

PRQCESS OF CLEANING NUTS, 84.0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,012, dated November 29, 1887.

Application filed August 13, 1880. Serial No. 210,765. No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: lutions per minute. The nuts are then taken Be it known that I, J AMES H. SPENCER, a out of the tumbling-machine and the sawdust citizen of the United States, residing in the sifted out by any proper means,whilc the nuts clty, county, and State of New York, have inare spread out to dry. After drying, they are 5 5 vented a new and useful Process for Cleaning placed in awire cylinder or brushed to remove Nuts, Beans, and other Like Articles, of which any sawdust or foreign substance that may rethe following, taken in connection with the main. accompanying drawing, is a full, clear, and The above is simply a general directive accurate description. formula to be varied according to the quantity 6o 10 The object of my invention is to remove the of the goods or articles to be treated, and I do dirt and other foreign substances from the not intend to confine myself to the proporshells or outer surfaces of nuts, beans, and tions, rates of speed, or time above detailed, other like articles in such a manner as to prethe essence of my process consistingin mixing vent abrasion or injury of the surfaces treated, the articles to be treated with sawdust damp- 6 I5 while at the same time the outer surfaces of ened as a protection for the nuts while they such articles are so thoroughly cleansed and are tumbled, while at the same time the sawpolished as to be in a condition for ready sale dust acts as an elastic brush, cleanser, and aband market. sorbent to remove dirt and impurities.

The drawing accompanying this specifica- In the drawing, which is simply shown as a 70 tion and forming a part thereof representsa specimen of atumbling-machine, Arepresents machine which I prefer to use in connection a hollow drum orcylinder for holding the arwith and to carry out my process; but any ticles to be treated. This cylinder is mounted other machine of the same general character on suitable axles, B, journaled in suitable supcan be used to carry on my process, as will be ports, 0, in such manner that the cylinder can 7 readily seen. by driven by any suitable applied power. I 7 My process consists in placing the nuts or prefer, however, to use steam-power, which beans, &c., in the condition they are received can be applied to work the tumbling-cylinder by the importers or persons purchasing the A by suitable pulleys and shafting in any orsame, intermingled with dirt and other foreign dinary way. 80 0 substances, with their shells rough or inil- The tumbling-cylinder A is provided with dewed, and a quantity of sawdust or similar a cover or door, D, which is so hinged at e e vegetable fiber dampened, as explained below, as to be opened to receive the articles to be in a tumbling machine, and revolving the treated, and when the cylinder is in operation same until, by the friction of the sawdust and it is securely closed by abutton or fastening, F. 85 nuts or beans, theimpurities are removed and I am aware that it has been proposed to the outer surfaces of such nuts, beans, or other clean grain by mixing therewith a quantity of like articles subjected to this treatment are dry bran andthen agitating it. I am also thoroughly cleansed and polished. aware that it has been proposed to remove the To clean the nuts and other articles from short fiber adhering to cotton-seed by subject 0 40 which the shells have not been removed, and ing the seed to the action of sulphuric acid nuts the shells of which are mildewed on the and neutralizing the effects of the acid by suboutside, moldy, dirty, or discolored, I mix in sequently mixing with the seed a quantity of the tumbling-machine with about seven hunalkaline earth, and, furthermore, that it has drcd and fifty or one thousand pounds of the been proposed to clean nuts by mixing with 95 nuts, 850., to be treated about a barrel of sawthem a quantity of river sand moistened with dust which has been previously dampened or diluted lye and subjecting them to the action wet with about five pails of water, to which of a tumbling-machine. None of these are the water has been added about two per cent. of equivalent of my process above set forth. commercial sulphuric acid. The tumbling- Having thus described my invention, whatI I00 machine is then revolved for about half an claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, hour at a rate of speed of about twenty revois 1. The process of cleaning nuts, which consists in mixing therewith a quantity of (lamp sists in mixing therewith a quantity of damp sawdust to which has been added a quantity sawdust, agitating them while in this condiof sulphuric acid, agitating them while com- 15 tion, and subsequently separating them from mingled with this damp acidulated sawdust, the sawdust and other impurities. and subsequently freeing them of the sawdust,

2. The process of cleaning nuts, which con- &c., substantially as set forth. sists in mixing therewith a quantity of saw- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set dust dampened with acidu-lated water, agitatmy hand this 11th day of August, 1886. ing them while thus eommingled with the J AS. IT. SPENCER. sawdust, and then removing the sawdust, dirt, &c., substantially as set forth.

3. The process of cleaning nuts, which con- In presence of It. F. VAN BOSKERCK, MARY SHERIDAN. 

